This fishing report, provided by Bill Dunn and the Department of Game and Fish, has been generated from the best information available from area officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
Escondida Lake: Estevan Torrez, 2 years and 10 months old, of Socorro, caught his very first fish Dec. 18. It was a 12-inch rainbow trout caught on yellow orange PowerBait.
If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week, include name, age, hometown, date, and location, type of fish, length and weight if possible and bait, lure or fly used.
Dec. 20
Northeast
Cimarron River: Stream flow below Eagle Nest on Monday was 1.7 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Conchas Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Cowles Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Coyote Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Rock Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Eagle Nest Lake: Closed to fishing due to thin ice conditions. For updates, call the State Park office at (575) 377-1594.
Gallinas River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Hopewell Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Alice: As of this past Sunday, there was thin ice covering the lake which was unsafe for fishing. For updates, call the State Park office at (505) 445-5607.
Lake Maloya: Closed to fishing due to thin ice conditions. Call the State Park office at (505) 445-5607 for updates.
Los Pinos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Monastery Lake: As of Monday, there was a thin layer of ice on the lake. Ice fishing is not permitted.
Pecos River: Trout fishing in the Villanueva area was good using salmon eggs and PowerBait.
Red River: Stream flow below the hatchery on Monday was 34 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Grande: Stream flow on Monday at the Taos Junction Bridge was 498 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using wooly buggers, PowerBait, garlic cheese and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.
Rio Hondo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Pueblo: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Barbara River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Santa Cruz Reservoir: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Shuree Ponds: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Springer Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week. Ice fishing is not permitted.
Storrie Lake: As of Monday morning, there was a thin layer of ice on the lake and it was closed to fishing. For updates, call the State Park office at (505) 425-7278.
Ute Lake: Fishing for walleye was fair for the few anglers who braved the weather this past week. They were using jig and minnow and jig and grub rigs at 40 to 45 feet on the deep flats. We had no other reports.
Winsor Creek: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Northwest
Abiquiu Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Animas River: Water flow near Aztec on Monday morning was 293 cfs. Fishing was fair to good using San Juan worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.
Albuquerque Area Drains: Trout fishing was good using copper John Barrs, San Juan worms, PowerBait, salmon eggs, worms under a bobber and wax worms. We had good reports from the Albuquerque Drain (South), Belen Drain, Corrales Drain and Peralta Drain.
Bluewater Lake: Closed to ice fishing and boating due to thin and unsafe ice conditions. For updates, contact the State Park office at (505) 876-2391.
Brazos River: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Canjilon Lakes: Closed by the U.S. Forest Service until further notice due to danger from falling trees.
Chama River: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 166 cfs and 244 cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was fair to good using Rapalas for brown trout. We had no other reports. Fishing below Abiquiu was good using copper John Barrs, wooly buggers, San Juan worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for rainbow trout.
Cochiti Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
El VadoLake: Fishing pressure was extremely light and we had no reports this past week.
Fenton Lake: Closed to fishing and all other activities due to thin ice conditions. For updates, call the State Park office at (575) 829-3630.
Heron Lake: Bank fishing was fair using corn and salmon eggs for rainbow trout. The best reports came for anglers fishing near the dam and in the La Laja boat ramp area.
Jackson Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Jemez Waters: Stream flow on the Jemez River near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 31 cfs. Fishing on the Jemez was fair to good using salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports from other streams in the area.
Lake Farmington: We had no reports from anglers this week. Nonmotorized watercraft are now allowed on Lake Farmington. Fees are $50 for the season or $5 daily.
Manzano Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Navajo Lake: Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow with just a few caught by anglers using jigs and spoons. Trolling for brown trout was slow to fair using Rapalas. A few northern pike were caught by anglers using swim baits. We had no other reports. Fishing pressure was light.
San Gregorio Lake: We had no reports from anglers.
San Juan River: Stream flow from Navajo Reservoir on Monday was 353 cfs. Fishing through the Quality Waters was good using foam emergers, dead chickens, red annelids, RS2s, Griffith’s gnats and small bead-head pheasant tail nymphs. Fishing through the bait waters was good using worms, PowerBait, San Juan worms and wooly worms.
Tingley Beach: Fishing at the Central and Youth ponds was good using wax worms, PowerBait, San Juan worms, egg patterns, spinners and Kastmasters for rainbow trout. Fishing at the Bob Gerding Catch and Release Pond was good using small midge patterns, San Juan worms, Griffith’s gnats and small leech patterns.
Trout Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Southwest
Alumni Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and small Kastmasters for trout.
Bear Canyon Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bill Evans Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait, garlic cheese, egg patterns and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.
Caballo Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure was very light.
Elephant Butte Lake: Fishing was fair using grubs, jigs and minnows for white bass. Fishing was fair using Bass Busters, Kastmasters and jigs for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We had no other reports.
Escondida Lake: Fishing was fair using PowerBait and garlic cheese for trout. We had no other reports.
Gila River: Stream flow on Monday morning was 95 cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Glenwood Pond: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Roberts: Fishing was very good using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no other reports.
Percha Dam: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Quemado Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Rio Grande: Stream flow below Elephant Butte Monday morning was 0.46 cfs. Fishing was good using PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.
Snow Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Young Pond: Fishing was good using Zeke’s trout bait, red and orange PowerBait and salmon egg corn combinations for trout. We had no other reports.
Southeast
Alto Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Bataan Lake: Fishing was good using San Juan worms, PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no other reports.
Black River: Stream flow at Malaga on Monday was 12 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout.
Blue Hole Park Pond: Fishing was good using PowerBait, worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.
Bonito Lake: Closed until further notice by the city of Alamogordo due to fire damage.
Bosque Redondo Lake: Fishing was fair to good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait and salmon eggs for trout.
Bottomless Lakes: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Brantley Lake: Anglers are required to catch and release all fish here as high levels of pesticides have been found in some fish. We had no reports from anglers this week.
Carlsbad Municipal Lake: Fishing was good using orange and red PowerBait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.
Chaparral Park Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
El Rito Creek: Fishing was good using San Juan worms, PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms for trout. We had no other reports.
Eunice Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was good using PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.
Greene Acres Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Grindstone Reservoir: Fishing was good using PowerBait, homemade dough bait, meal worms and salmon eggs for trout. We had no other reports.
Jal Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Lake Van: Fishing was fair using PowerBait, salmon eggs and spoons for trout. We had no other reports.
Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was fair to good using Kastmasters and homemade dough bait for trout.
Pecos River: Stream flow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 22 cfs. Trout fishing was good for anglers using wax worms, PowerBait and salmon eggs. A few catfish were caught by anglers using worms and homemade dough bait. We had no other reports.
Perch Lake: Fishing was fair to good using salmon eggs, homemade dough bait and PowerBait for trout. We had no other reports.
Ruidoso River: Stream flow at Hollywood on Monday was 1.6 cfs. Trout fishing was slow.
Santa Rosa Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
Sumner Lake: We had no reports from anglers this week.
